Carbon sequestration is seen by many scientists and politicians to be the answer to the problems of both global warming and future supplies of energy. Two main strategies are being considered. One requires the stripping out of carbon dioxide from the waste gases of power stations using coal as feedstock and storing it underground or under the sea bed. The other approach, which is the subject of this paper, is based on experiences in Amazonia thousands of years ago, in which indigenous tribes “created” soil by enriching it with charcoal and human and animal residues (Glazer 2007). “Terra preta” as it was called has been found to have multiple properties. The carbon derived from the charcoal is not oxidized by soil micro-organisms, hence its capacity to “sequester” carbon; of equal importance are properties ranging from being a source of soil nutrients per se and enhancement of the utilization of nutrients that may be added, especially nitrogen (Lehmann et al. 2006).